Overturn preventing device

ABSTRACT

Providing an overturn preventing device which can easily be mounted and can prevent articles from overturn. The overturn preventing device includes an abutting part and a connecting part. The abutting part abuts against a ceiling. The abutting part is disposed so as to extend in one direction while gradually departing from the ceiling. The connecting part has two ends one of which is connected to an end of the abutting part away from the ceiling and the other of which is disposed on a top surface of a piece of furniture. The abutting part is elastically deformed with tilt of the furniture, so that an area of a part of the abutting part abutting against the ceiling is increased.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an overturn preventing device.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional overturn preventing device.The overturn preventing device includes a furniture-pressing lower part,a ceiling-abutting upper part, and an expansion/contraction part. Thefurniture-pressing lower part is caused to abut against an upper surfaceof a furniture protecting plate disposed on an upper surface of a pieceof furniture. The ceiling-abutting upper part is caused to abut againsta ceiling. The expansion/contraction part is disposed between thefurniture-pressing lower part and the ceiling-abutting upper part and isexpandable/contractible in an up-down direction and fixable at anyposition. Since a vertical length of the expansion/contract ion part isadjustable according to a height of the furniture in this overturnpreventing device, the overturn preventing device can be mounted onpieces of furniture with different heights, thereby preventing thefurniture from overturn.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. JP H08-242954

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Overcome by the Invention

However, when due to quakes of earthquake or the like, a force directedto tilt the furniture is applied to the furniture on which the overturnpreventing device of Patent Document 1 is mounted, the force isconcentrated on an abutting surface of the furniture-pressing lower partabutting against the furniture protecting plate and an abutting surfaceof the ceiling-abutting upper part abutting against the ceiling.Accordingly, a furniture-protecting plate needs to be disposed on theupper surface of the furniture in order that the furniture-pressinglower part may be prevented from breaking through the upper surface ofthe furniture. Furthermore, the ceiling-abutting upper part needs to bemounted on a part of the ceiling having a higher strength (a part towhich a crosspiece and a ceiling cornice are mounted). Thus, troublesometasks are required in mounting the overturn preventing device, forexample, the plate needs to be disposed or a mounting position needs tobe selected.

The present invention was made in view of the above-describedcircumstances in the conventional art and has an object to provide anoverturn preventing device which can easily be mounted and can preventarticles from overturn.

Means for Overcoming the Problem

An overturn preventing device of the first invention includes anabutting part and a connecting part. The abutting part abuts against aceiling or an installation surface. The abutting part is disposed so asto extend in one direction while gradually departing from the ceiling orthe installation surface. The connecting part has two ends one of whichis connected to an end of the abutting part away from the ceiling or theinstallation surface and the other of which is disposed on an articleinstalled on the installation surface. The abutting part is elasticallydeformed with tilt of the article, so that an area of a part of theabutting part abutting against the ceiling or the installation surfaceis increased.

An overturn preventing device of the second invention also includes anabutting part and a connecting part. The abutting part abuts against anarticle installed on an installation surface. The abutting part isdisposed so as to extend in one direction while gradually departing fromthe article. The connecting part has two ends one of which is connectedto an end of the abutting part away from the article and the other ofwhich is disposed on a ceiling or the installation surface. The abuttingpart is elastically deformed with tilt of the article, so that an areaof a part of the abutting part abutting against the article isincreased.

In the overturn preventing device of the first invention, the abuttingpart may be disposed while gradually departing from the ceiling or theinstallation surface toward a direction in which a space between thearticle and the ceiling or the installation surface is narrowed when thearticle is tilted.

In the overturn preventing device of the second invention, the abuttingpart may abut against an end of the article. The end may be located at aside which comes close to the ceiling or the installation surface whenthe article is tilted. The abutting part may be disposed while graduallydeparting from the article toward a direction in which a space betweenthe article and the ceiling or the installation surface is widened whenthe article is tilted.

The overturn preventing device of the first or second invention may bemounted between the article and the ceiling or the installation surfaceusing an elastic force of the abutting part. Furthermore, in theoverturn preventing device of the first or second invention, theconnecting part may have a height adjuster which adjusts a height wisedimension according to a space between the article and the ceiling orthe installation surface.

The article includes furniture, a bed having a plurality of bedsconnected to each other in the up-down direction, large sizedtelevisions, refrigerators, book shelves, showcases and server racks,all of which have a possibility of being overturned by quakes ofearthquake or the like. The installation surface includes foundationsurfaces which are located outside buildings and on which articles areinstalled, as well as floor surfaces located inside buildings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of a firstembodiment, illustrating the overturn preventing device mounted betweena top surface of furniture and a ceiling with an abutting part caused toabut against the ceiling;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of thefirst embodiment, illustrating the overturn preventing device mountedbetween the top surface of furniture and the ceiling with the abuttingpart caused to abut against the top surface of furniture;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing devices of thefirst embodiment, illustrating one device with the abutting part causedto abut against the ceiling and the other device with the abutting partcaused to abut against the top surface of furniture, the devices beingmounted between the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing devices of asecond embodiment mounted between the underside of the furniture and thefloor surface with the abutting parts caused to abut against theunderside of the furniture;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of a thirdembodiment mounted between the top surface of the furniture and theceiling with the abutting part caused to abut against the ceiling; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of a fourthembodiment mounted between the top surface of the furniture and theceiling.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First to fourth embodiments of the overturn preventing devices of firstand second inventions will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the overturn preventing device 10 of thefirst embodiment is mounted between a top surface 1U of a piece offurniture 1 installed on a floor surface (not illustrated) with a rearsurface 1B being opposed to a wall surface W extending vertically fromthe floor surface and a ceiling C. The furniture 1 is formed into acuboid shape and has a door, drawers (neither illustrated), and the likein a front surface 1F, so that clothes, accessories, and the like can behoused in the furniture 1. The furniture 1 is has a rectangle-shapedhorizontal section long in a right-left direction (a depth/wisedirection in FIG. 1). When the overturn preventing device 10 is notmounted on the furniture 1, the furniture 1 would possibly be tiltedforward (rightward in FIG. 1) by quakes of earthquake or the likethereby to be overturned.

The overturn preventing device 10 includes an abutting part 11 and aconnecting part 13. The abutting part 11 is a band-shaped flat plate andis elastic. The abutting part 11 is curved into an arc shape.Furthermore, the abutting part 11 has two ends one of which has a sidesurface on which an antislip member 12 is affixed.

The connecting part 13 is a band-shaped flat plate formed integrallywith the abutting part 11 so as to be continuous from the other end ofthe abutting part 11. The connecting part 13 includes a curved part 14curved continuously from the curved abutting part 11 and a linear part15 bent at an end of the curved part 14 and extending in a linearfashion. An antislip member 16 is affixed on one side surface of thelinear part 15.

The overturn preventing device 10 having the above-describedconstruction can be mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture1 and the ceiling C by curving the abutting part 11 and the curved part14 of the connecting part. 13 so that the abutting part 11 and thecurved part 14 are swollen diagonally upwardly backward (toward a cornermade by the ceiling C and the wall surface W), as illustrated in FIGS. 1and 3. When the overturn preventing device 10 is to be mounted betweenthe top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C in this manner,the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14 of the connecting part 13are elastically deformed so that up-down dimensions of the overturnpreventing device 10 is reduced. The linear part 15 of the connectingpart 13 is then disposed on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 at therear surface 1B side, and a distal end of the abutting part 11 is causedto abut against the ceiling C. The abutting part 11 is disposed whilegradually departing from the ceiling C toward a direction (toward therear surface 1B of the furniture 1) in which a space between the topsurface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C is narrowed when thefurniture 1 is tilted forward.

When to be thus mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1and the ceiling C, the overturn preventing device 10 can be mountedusing an elastic force of the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14 ofthe connecting part 13 spreading in an up-down direction. As a result,the overturn preventing device 10 can easily be mounted between the topsurface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C.

Furthermore, in the case where the overturn preventing device 10 ismounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling Cin this manner, when quakes of earthquake or the like tilts thefurniture 1 forward, the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14 of theconnecting part 13 are elastically deformed with the forward tilt of thefurniture 1, so that an area of part of the abutting part 11 abuttingagainst the ceiling C is increased. Thus, when the quakes of earthquakeor the like tilts the furniture 1 forward, a force tilting the furniture1 can be relieved by the elastic deformation of the abutting part 11 andthe curved part 14 of the connecting part 13 in this overturn preventingdevice 10. Furthermore, since the area of the part of the abutting part11 abutting against the ceiling C is increased when the quakes ofearthquake or the like tilts the furniture 1 forward, a force applied tothe ceiling C can be dispersed. Thus, since the force applied to theceiling C is rendered smaller, the freedom in the mounting position ofthe overturn preventing device 10 can be improved.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the overturn preventingdevice 10 can be mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1and the ceiling C by curving the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14of the connecting part 13 so that the abutting part 11 and the curvedpart 14 are swollen diagonally downwardly forward. When the overturnpreventing device 10 is to be mounted between the top surface 1U of thefurniture 1 and the ceiling C in this manner, too, the abutting part 11and the curved part 14 of the connecting part 13 are elasticallydeformed so that the up-down dimension of the overturn preventing device10 is reduced. The linear part 15 of the connecting part 13 is caused toabut against the ceiling C so that the distal end of the abutting part11 abuts against the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 at the rearsurface 1B side. In other words, the abutting part 11 is caused to abutagainst an end of the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 at the sidewhich comes close to the ceiling C when the furniture 1 is tiltedforward (at the rear surface 1B side of the furniture 1). The abuttingpart 11 is disposed while gradually departing from the top surface 1U ofthe furniture 1 toward a direction (toward the front surface 1F of thefurniture 1) in which a space between the top surface 1U of thefurniture 1 and the ceiling C is widened when the furniture 1 is tiltedforward.

When to be thus mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1and the ceiling C, the overturn preventing device 10 can be mountedusing the elastic force of the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14of the connecting part 13 spreading in the up-down direction. As aresult, the overturn preventing device 10 can easily be mounted betweenthe top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C.

Furthermore, in the case where the overturn preventing device 10 is thusmounted between the top surface 1U or the furniture 1 and the ceiling C,too, when quakes of earthquake or the like tilts the furniture 1forward, the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14 of the connectingpart 13 are elastically deformed with the forward tilt of the furniture1, so that an area of part of the abutting part 11 abutting against thetop surface 1U of the furniture 1 is increased. Thus, when the quakes ofearthquake or the like tilts the furniture 1 forward, the force tiltingthe furniture 1 can be relieved by the elastic deformation of theabutting part 11 and the curved part 14 of the connecting part 13 inthis overturn preventing device 10. Furthermore, since the area of thepart of the abutting part 11 abutting against the top surface 1U of thefurniture 1 is increased when the quakes of earthquake or the like tiltsthe furniture 1 forward, the force applied to the top surface 1U of thefurniture 1 can be dispersed. Thus, since the force applied to the topsurface 1U of the furniture 1 is rendered smaller, the freedom in themounting position of the overturn preventing device 10 can be improved.

Accordingly, the overturn preventing device 10 of the first embodimentcan easily be mounted and can prevent the furniture 1 from overturn.

Furthermore, since the antislip members 12 and 16 are respectivelyaffixed on one side surface of one of the ends of the abutting part 11and one side surface of the linear part 15 of the connecting part 13,the overturn preventing device 10 can be mounted without displacement ofthe linear part 15 of the connecting part 13 or the abutting part 11relative to the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 or the ceiling C evenwhen quakes of earthquake or the like tilts the furniture 1 forward. Asa result, even upon occurrence of quakes of earthquake or the like, theoverturn preventing device 10 is maintained in the mounted state betweenthe top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C and canaccordingly prevent the furniture 1 from overturn.

Second Embodiment

The overturn preventing device 10 of a second embodiment differs fromthat of the first embodiment in that the overturn preventing device 10is mounted between an underside 3D of a piece of furniture 2 installedon the floor surface F and the floor surface F, as illustrated in FIG.4. The configuration of the overturn preventing device of the secondembodiment is same as that of the first embodiment, and the identical orsimilar parts are labeled by the same reference symbols as those in thefirst embodiment and detailed description of such parts will beeliminated.

The furniture 2 includes a furniture body 3 and a support leg 4installed on the floor surface F and supporting the furniture body 3.The furniture body 3 is formed into a cuboid shape and has a door,drawers (neither illustrated), and the like in a front surface 3F, sothat clothes, accessories, and the like can be housed in the furniturebody 3. The furniture body 3 has a rectangle-shaped horizontal sectionlong in a right-left direction (a depthwise direction in FIG. 4). Thesupport leg 4 is also formed into a cuboid shape and has arectangle-shaped horizontal section which is smaller than that of thefurniture body 3 and is long in the right-left direction. The supportleg 4 extends downward continuously from a central part of the undersideof the furniture body 3 so that a longitudinal direction of the supportleg 4 is same as a longitudinal direction of the furniture body 3. As aresult, the underside 3D of the furniture body 3 is spread outward froman upper peripheral edge of the support leg 4. The furniture 2 standswith the underside of the support leg 4 abutting against the floorsurface F. Since the furniture 2 is formed into the cuboid shape and islong in the right-left direction, the furniture 2 would possibly betilted in the front-back direction (in the right-left direction in FIG.4) by quakes of earthquake or the like thereby to be overturned when theoverturn preventing device 10 is not mounted on the furniture 2.

At least a pair of the overturn preventing devices 10 can be mountedbetween the underside 3D of the furniture body 3 and the floor surface Fwith the support leg 4 being interposed therebetween. The pairedoverturn preventing devices 10 mounted between the underside 3D of thefurniture body 3 and the floor surface F are each curved so as to beswollen diagonally upwardly inward (toward the direction of a cornermade by the underside 3D of the furniture body 3 and the support leg 4).

When the overturn preventing device 10 is to be mounted between thefront (left as viewed in FIG. 4) underside 3D of the furniture body 3and the floor surface F in the above-described manner, the abutting part11 and the curved part 14 of the connecting part 13 are elasticallydeformed so that the up-down dimension of the overturn preventing device10 is reduced. The linear part 15 of the connecting part 13 is thendisposed on a part of the floor surface F located near the support leg4, and the distal end of the abutting part 11 is caused to abut againstthe underside 3D of the front edge of the furniture body 3. In otherwords, the abutting part 11 is caused to abut against an end of theunderside 3D of the furniture body 3, which end is located at the side(the front surface 3F side of the furniture 2) which comes close to thefloor surface F when the furniture 2 is tilted forward (leftward asviewed in FIG. 4). The abutting part 11 is disposed while graduallydeparting from the underside 3D of the furniture body 3 toward adirection (toward the support leg 4) in which a space between the frontunderside 3D of the furniture body 3 and the floor surface F is widenedwhen the furniture 2 is tilted forward.

Furthermore, when the overturn preventing device 10 is to be mountedbetween the rear (rightward as viewed in FIG. 4) underside 3D of thefurniture body 3 and the floor surface F, too, the abutting part 11 andthe curved part 14 of the connecting part 13 are elastically deformed sothat the up-down dimension of the overturn preventing device 10 isreduced. The linear part 15 of the connecting part 13 is then disposedon a part of the floor surface F located near the support leg 4, and thedistal end of the abutting part 11 is caused to abut against theunderside 3D of the rear edge of the furniture body 3. In other words,the abutting part 11 is caused to abut against an end of the underside3D of the furniture body 3, which end is located at the side (the rearsurface 3B side of the furniture 2) which comes close to the floorsurface F when the furniture 2 is tilted rearward (rightward as viewedin FIG. 4). The abutting part 11 is disposed while gradually departingfrom the underside 3D of the furniture body 3 toward a direction (towardthe support leg 4) in which a space between the rear underside 3D of thefurniture body 3 and the floor surface F is widened when the furniture 2is tilted rearward.

When to be mounted between the front underside 3D of the furniture body3 and the floor surface F, and between the rear underside 3D of thefurniture body 3 and the floor surface F in the above-described manner,the overturn preventing device 10 can be mounted using the elastic forceof the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14 of the connecting part 13spreading in an up-down direction. As a result, the overturn preventingdevice 10 can easily be mounted between the underside 3D of thefurniture body 3 and the floor surface F.

In the case where the overturn preventing device 10 is thus mountedbetween the underside 3D of the furniture body 3 and the floor surfaceF, when quakes of earthquake or the like tilts the furniture 2 in thefront-back direction, the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14 of theconnecting part 13 are elastically deformed with the tilt of thefurniture 2, so that an area of part of the abutting part 11 abuttingagainst the underside 3D of the furniture body 3 is increased. Thus,when the quakes of earthquake or the like tilts the furniture 2 in thefront-back direction, a force tilting the furniture 2 can be relieved bythe elastic deformation of the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14of the connecting part 13. Furthermore, since the area of the part ofthe abutting part 11 abutting against the underside 3D of the furniturebody 3 is increased when the front-back direction, a force applied tothe furniture 2 can be dispersed. Thus, since the force applied to thefurniture 2 is rendered smaller, the freedom in the mounting position ofthe overturn preventing device 10 can be improved.

Accordingly, the overturn preventing device 10 of the embodiment caneasily be mounted and prevent the furniture 2 from overturn.

Furthermore, since the antislip members 12 and 16 are respectivelyaffixed on one side surface of the end of the abutting part 11 and oneside surface of the linear part 15 of the connecting member 13, theoverturn preventing device 10 can be mounted without displacement of theabutting part 11 relative to the underside 3D of the furniture body 3even when quakes of earthquake or the like tilts the furniture 2 in thefront-back direction. The overturn preventing device 10 can be mountedwithout displacement of the linear part 15 of the connecting part 13relative to the floor surface F in a similar manner. As a result, evenupon occurrence of quakes of earthquake or the like, the overturnpreventing device 10 is maintained in the mounted state between theunderside 3D of the furniture body 3 and the floor surface F and canaccordingly prevent the furniture 2 from overturn.

Third Embodiment

The overturn preventing device 20 of a third embodiment differs fromthat of the first embodiment in that the connecting part 23 has a heightadjuster 25, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In the third embodiment, theidentical or similar parts are labeled by the same reference symbols asthose in the first embodiment and detailed description of such partswill be eliminated.

The connecting part 23 of the overturn preventing device has aninsertion part 24 formed integrally with the abutting part 11continuously from the other end of the abutting part 11 and extending ona straight line, the height adjuster 25 to adjust a height directioninto which the insertion part 24 is inserted, and a support part 26provided on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 continuously from alower end of the height adjuster 25.

The insertion part 24 of the connecting part 23 is also formed into aflat plate shape and has two through holes 24A extending therethrough.The through holes 24A are provided at respective locations away fromeach other on a central line along a direction in which the insertionpart 24 extends. The through holes 24A are circular in shape and have anidentical inner diameter.

The height adjuster 25 has a pair of flat plates 27 which extend in thevertical direction with respect to the top surface 1U of the furniture 1with the support part 26 being placed on the top surface 1U of thefurniture 1 and are spaced from each other by a distance slightly largerthan a thickness of the insertion part 24 of the connecting part 23. Theinsertion part 24 of the connecting part 23 is inserted between thepaired flat plates 27.

The height adjuster 25 has three sets of through holes 27A eachextending through the paired flat plates 27. The three sets of throughholes 27A are provided on positions spaced from one another at regularintervals on a straight line extending in the vertical direction. Eachinterval of the three sets of through holes 27A is identical with theinterval of two through holes 24A provided through the insertion part 24of the connecting part 23. The through holes 27A are circular in shapeand have an identical inner diameter. The inner diameter of each throughhole 27A of the height adjuster 25 is larger than the inner diameter ofeach through hole 24A provided through the insertion part 24 of theconnecting part 23.

The support part 26 is formed into a flat plate shape and has anunderside which abuts against the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 whenthe overturn preventing device 20 is placed on the top surface 1U of thefurniture 1, on which underside the antislip member 26A is affixed.Furthermore, the support part 26 has a central upper surface to whichthe paired flat plates 27 of the height adjuster 25 are continuous.

The overturn preventing device 20 has a pin 50 which is insertablethrough each of the three sets of through holes 27A of the heightadjuster 25. The pin 50 has a head 51 and a shaft part 52 extendingcontinuously with the head 51. The head 51 is formed into a columnarshape and has a larger outer diameter than each through hole 27A of theheight adjuster 25. The shaft part 52 is formed into a tip-split shapeand has a tip 52A spread outward from a distal end thereof. The tip 52Aof the shaft part 52 normally has a largest outer diameter that islarger than the inner diameter of each through hole 27A of the heightadjuster 25. The tip 52A of the shaft part 52 is elastically deferrablethereby to reduce the outer diameter, with the result that the shaftpart 52 is insertable through each through hole 27A of the heightadjuster 25. When the shaft part 52 has been inserted through thethrough hole 27A, the tip 52A is locked to the through hole 27A therebyto be retained.

In the overturn preventing device 20, the insertion part 24 of theconnecting part 23 is inserted between the paired flat plates 27 of theheight adjuster 25, and the pin 50 is inserted through the through holes27A of the height adjuster 25 and the through holes 24A the insertionpart 24 thereby to be retained which holes are aligned on the identicalstraight line, with the result that the height of the overturnpreventing device 20 can be adjusted. In other words, the height of theoverturn preventing device 20 can be adjusted in three levels. As aresult, a space overturn preventing device 20 therein can be renderedbroad. In other words, the overturn preventing device 20 can be mountedon various pieces of furniture with different heights.

The height adjuster 25 of the overturn preventing device 20 having theabove-described construction is adjusted according to the space betweenthe top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C before theoverturn preventing device 20 is mounted between the top surface 1U ofthe furniture 1 and the ceiling C. Subsequently, the abutting part 11and the curved part 14 of the connecting part 23 are elasticallydeformed so that the up-down dimension of the overturn preventing device20 is reduced. The support part 26 of the connecting part 23 is thendisposed on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 at the rear surface 1Bside, and the distal end of the abutting part 11 is caused to abutagainst the ceiling C. The abutting part 11 is disposed while graduallydeparting from the ceiling C toward a direction (toward the rear surface1B of the furniture 1) in which the space between the top surface 1U ofthe furniture 1 and the ceiling C is narrowed when the furniture 1 istilted forward.

When to be thus mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1and the ceiling C, the overturn preventing device 20 can be mountedusing the elastic force of the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14of the connecting part 23 spreading in the up-down direction. As aresult, the overturn preventing device 20 can easily be mounted betweenthe top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C.

Furthermore, in the case where the overturn preventing device 20 is thusmounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C,when quakes of earthquake or the like tilts the furniture 1 forward, theabutting part 11 and the curved part 14 of the connecting part 23 areelastically deformed with the forward tilt of the furniture 1, so thatan area of part of the abutting part 11 abutting against the ceiling Cis increased. Thus, when the quakes of earthquake or the like tilts thefurniture 1 forward, a force tilting the furniture 1 can be relieved bythe elastic deformation of the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14of the connecting part 23 in this overturn preventing device 20.Furthermore, since the area of the part of the abutting part 11 abuttingagainst the ceiling C is increased when the quakes of earthquake or thelike tilts the furniture 1 forward, a force applied to the ceiling C canbe dispersed. Thus, since the force applied to the ceiling C is renderedsmaller, the freedom in the mounting position of the overturn preventingdevice 20 can be improved.

Accordingly, the overturn preventing device 20 of the third embodimentcan easily be mounted and prevent the furniture 1 from overturn.

Fourth Embodiment

The overturn preventing device 30 of a fourth embodiment includes twooverturn preventing devices 10 of the first embodiment coupled with eachother so that the abutting parts 11 and the curved parts 14 of theconnecting parts 13 are swollen in opposite directions, as illustratedin FIG. 6. In other words, the abutting part 11 of one of the overturnpreventing devices 10 is integrated with the linear part 15 of theconnecting part 13 of the other overturn preventing device 10, and thelinear part 15 of the connecting part 13 of the one overturn preventingdevice 10 is integrated with the abutting part 11 of the other overturnpreventing device 10. In the fourth embodiment, the identical or similarparts are labeled by the same reference symbols as those in the firstembodiment and detailed description of such parts will be eliminated.

The overturn preventing device 30 having the above-described structurecan be mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and theceiling C so that one abutting part 11 and one curved part 14 of theconnecting part 13 are curved so as to be swollen diagonally upwardlybackward and the other abutting part 11 and the other curved part 14 ofthe connecting part 13 are swollen diagonally downwardly forward. Whenthe overturn preventing device 30 is to be mounted between the topsurface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C in this manner, theabutting parts 11 and the curved parts 14 of the connecting parts 13 areelastically deformed so that the up-down dimension of the overturnpreventing device 30 is reduced. The distal end of the other abuttingpart 11 is then disposed on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 at therear surface 13 side, and the distal end of the one abutting part 11 iscaused to abut against the ceiling C. The one abutting part 11 isdisposed while gradually departing from the ceiling C toward a direction(toward the rear surface 1B of the furniture 1) in which a space betweenthe top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C is narrowed whenthe furniture 1 is tilted forward. Furthermore, the other abutting part11 is disposed while gradually departing from the top surface 1U of thefurniture 1 toward a direction (toward the front surface 1F of thefurniture 1) in which a space between the top surface 1U of thefurniture 1 and the ceiling C is widened when the furniture 1 is tiltedforward.

When to be thus mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1and the ceiling C, the overturn preventing device 30 can be mountedusing the elastic force of the abutting part 11 and the curved part 14of the connecting part 13 spreading in the up-down direction. As aresult, the overturn preventing device 30 can easily be mounted betweenthe top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C.

Furthermore, in the case where the overturn preventing device 30 is thusmounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C,when quakes of earthquake or the like tilts the furniture 1 forward, theabutting part 11 and the curved part 14 of the connecting part 13 areelastically deformed with the forward tilt of the furniture 1, so thatan area of part of the one abutting part 11 abutting against the ceilingC and an area of part of the other abutting part 11 abutting against thetop surface 1U of the furniture 1 are increased.

Thus, when the quakes of earthquake or the like tilts the furniture 1forward, a force tilting the furniture 1 can be relieved by the elasticdeformation of the abutting parts 11 and the curved parts 14 of theconnecting parts 13 in this overturn preventing device 30. Furthermore,since the area of the part of the one abutting part 11 abutting againstthe ceiling C is increased and the area of the part of the otherabutting part 11 abutting against the top surface 1U of the furniture 1is increased when the quakes of earthquake or the like tilts thefurniture 1 forward, a force applied to the ceiling C and the topsurface 1U of the furniture 1 can be dispersed. Thus, since the forcesapplied to the ceiling C and the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 arerendered smaller, the freedom in the mounting position of the overturnpreventing device 30 can be improved.

Accordingly, the overturn preventing device 30 of the fourth embodimentcan easily be mounted and can prevent the furniture 1 from overturn.

Furthermore, since the antislip member 12 is affixed on one side surfaceof one end of each abutting part 11, the overturn preventing device 30can be mounted without displacement of the abutting part 11 with respectto on the top surface IU of the furniture 1 or the ceiling C even whenquakes of earthquake or the like tilts the furniture 1 forward. As aresult, even upon occurrence of quakes of earthquake or the like, theoverturn preventing device 30 is maintained in the mounted state betweenthe top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C and canaccordingly prevent the furniture 1 from overturn.

The present invention should not be limited to the first to fourthembodiments described above with reference to the drawings, but thetechnical scope of the invention encompasses the following embodiments,for example.

(1) In the first embodiment, one of the overturn preventing devices ismounted so that the abutting part and the curved part of the connectingpart are curved so as to be swollen diagonally upwardly backward, andthe other overturn preventing device is mounted so that the abuttingpart and the curved part of the connecting part are curved so as to beswollen diagonally downwardly forward. However, only one overturnpreventing device may be mounted, or a plurality of overturn preventingdevices may be mounted so that the abutting parts and the curved partsof the connecting parts are swollen in the same direction.(2) In the first to fourth embodiments, one side surface of one end ofthe abutting part and one side surface of the linear part of theconnecting part are affixed with the antislip members and mounted inabutment against the ceiling, the top surface of the furniture, or theunderside of the furniture. However, one end of the abutting part or thelinear part of the connecting part may be attached to the ceiling, thetop surface of the furniture, or the underside of the furniture byadhesive or screw tightening.(3) In the third embodiment, the height adjuster can adjust the heightof the overturn preventing device in three levels. However, the heightof the overturn preventing device may be adjusted in two levels, or fouror more levels, or in a continuous manner.(4) In the third embodiment, the overturn preventing device is mountedbetween the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling. However, theoverturn preventing device may be mounted between the underside of thefurniture and the floor surface.(5) In the fourth embodiment, the overturn preventing devices aremounted between the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling.However, the overturn preventing devices may be mounted between theunderside of the furniture and the floor surface.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   C . . . ceiling, F . . . floor surface (installation surface), 11 .    . . abutting part, 1, 2 . . . furniture (article), 13, 23 . . .    connecting part), 25 . . . height adjuster

1. An overturn preventing device comprising: an abutting part abuttingagainst a ceiling or an installation surface and disposed so as toextend in one direction while gradually departing from the ceiling orthe installation surface, the abutting part being elastic; and aconnecting part having two ends one of which is connected to an end ofthe abutting part away from the ceiling or the installation surface andthe other of which is disposed on an article installed on theinstallation surface, wherein the abutting part is elastically deformedwith tilt of the article, so that an area of a part of the abutting partabutting against the ceiling or the installation surface is increased.2. The overturn preventing device according to claim 1, wherein theabutting part is disposed while gradually departing from the ceiling orthe installation surface toward a direction in which a space between thearticle and the ceiling or the installation surface is narrowed when thearticle is tilted.
 3. An overturn preventing device comprising: anabutting part abutting against an article installed on an installationsurface and disposed so as to extend in one direction while graduallydeparting from the article, the abutting part being elastic; and aconnecting part having two ends one of which is connected to an end ofthe abutting part away from the article and the other of which isdisposed on a ceiling or the installation surface, wherein the abuttingpart is elastically deformed with tilt of the article, so that an areaof a part of the abutting part abutting against the article isincreased.
 4. The overturn preventing device according to claim 3,wherein the abutting part abuts against an end of the article, the endbeing located at a side which comes close to the ceiling or theinstallation surface when the article is tilted, and the abutting partis disposed while gradually departing from the article toward adirection in which a space between the article and the ceiling or theinstallation surface is widened when the article is tilted.
 5. Theoverturn preventing device according to claim 1, which is mountedbetween the article and the ceiling or the installation surface using anelastic force of the abutting part.
 6. The overturn preventing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the connecting part has a height adjusterwhich adjusts a height wise dimension according to a space between thearticle and the ceiling or the installation surface.
 7. The overturnpreventing device according to claim 3, which is mounted between thearticle and the ceiling or the installation surface using an elasticforce of the abutting part.
 8. The overturn preventing device accordingto claim 3, wherein the connecting part has a height adjuster whichadjusts a height wise dimension according to a space between the articleand the ceiling or the installation surface.